Gardening

DIY Indoor Organic Gardening Setup!

Good afternoon, fellow gardeners! Today, I wanted to share with you how to create a DIY Indoor Organic Gardening Setup! This is the affordable, easy-as-pie setup I create annually for my seedlings, which will make up my various summer and fall gardens this year; this series will span 16 weeks so please check back each Sunday! Here’s how to create it

Step 1: I purchased my green shelves from Walmart for 12.98 each! The shelves are simple to put together, and are light enough I can carry them loaded with plants by myself. The shelves are placed in front of my dining room windows, without any window coverings to maximize light and promote seed germination. As a side note, I am redecorating my dining room and that’s why it looks so empty!

Step 2: Install Lighting. I add greenhouse lighting by hanging fluorescent under cabinet light strips, purchased at Walmart for $5.98 each, by 4 inch s-hook, below each shelf. I plug each light into a surge protector, which is plugged into the wall. The seedlings will needs the light strips turned on for 16 hours a day, turning them off at night, when I go to bed, and back on in the morning when I begin my day.

Step 3: Creating mini-greenhouse stations. I find that growing my own seedlings works best for both my desire to organically produce frosh pesticide-free produce for my family, as well as my need to stay with my budget for my envelope savings system monthly budget. With that said, I produce my own garden plants by creating mini-indoor greenhouses! I start by using disposable covered baking pans from the Dollar Tree, which come in a 2-pack for $1.00.

Step 4: Create seed pots.

I use newspaper to create my seedling pots, which is an awesome savings, as seedling pots cost $3.98 for 12 at my local Walmart, and I make mine for free using recycled newspaper; as well, my local newspaper uses soy ink, so the ink will not be toxic to my germinating seeds. Below I will show you the steps to create my pots.
First, gather a sheet of newspaper, laid fully flat, on a flat surface.
Next, split your sheet of newspaper in half, along the crease.
Then, tear the half sheets in half again, creating quart-size pages.
Next, fold an one inch section, away from you, of the quarter sheet; be sure to crease the page once folded over.
Next, fold the sheet in half, lengthwise again; again making sure to crease your line. Then flip your sheet over and fold the uneven edge one inch up, away from you; be sure to crease that fold as well.
Now you will need a can; I use a small aluminum can. Take your sheet, place you can on one end of the sheet, making sure to align the end of the paper, one inch down the can, with the crease in the fold, and then roll the paper around the can. At this point, secure your can roll with a piece of tape, along the lose seem, and I used packaging tape; it was a couponed freebie!
Now, you will need to flip your can over, and secure your seedling cup bottom with another piece of tape. Now, invert your can and in a circular motion, loosen your cup away from the can, sliding in a spiral motion down, until the cup comes fully away from the can. At this point, fold a 1/2 inch section of the top rim of the cup into itself, creating a smooth, rimmed edge.
Repeat these steps, creating a total of 12 cups. Take the 12 cups and place them into the cake pans.

Step 5: Planting Your Seeds.

For this step you will plant your seeds for germination; I used seeds from my local Dollar Tree, which to my surprise were non-GMO seeds, and many varieties were heirloom quality as well.
You will need to purchase a potting soil mix, or make your own; I will be posting this week a recipe to make your own, but for this tray I used a commercial blend soil.
When filling your cups, you will then fill your cups with a basic, light potting soil mix, leaving 1/2 inch space from the top of the cup.
Next, take a sharpie marker and punch holes in the soil of each cup, making sure to go 1 inch down. Then place on seed in each hole, in each up, then re-cover with soil mix.

Step 6: Watering your cups. You will then need to saturate the cups. You will do this by placing 2 cups of lukewarm water in the bottom of each tray; the water will be absorbed within 5 minutes. The water will be absorbed up the newspaper cups. This is very interesting to watch! Also, do not be concerned of mold or rot, as the water being poured into the tray will help keep the seeds moist, but not damp.

Step 7: Move your tray to your shelving unit. Next, using a clean spray bottle, mist the tops of your cups, with an even mist for 30 second, or until thoroughly wet. A tip is to tilt the plastic cover top, backwards away from the shelf, at an angle, to prevent the mist from touching your lighting. Then place the packet cover, indicating which seeds you planted, on the side of each tray, and then firmly secure the plastic cover to your tray. Condensation will form on the tops of the trays, but this is normal, and precisely what you are aiming for; remember you are recreating the greenhouse effect, indoors!

Step 8: Repeat the above, until all of your shelves are full. As well, please note that seeds will need to be misted daily, for a full 30 seconds a tray.Please stay turned as next Sunday I will unveil my full shelves, and the next steps towards my budget-friendly gardening system!

Please stay tuned each week to see my seedling progress!

Here’s to greener living,

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Planting Grass Seed In Winter

Hello again, savvy savers! Though many of us are still in the midst of a winter freeze, we are now officially one month out of Spring! Woohoo! I’m not sure about you, but I’m ready for warmer, milder weather to start ushering in the change of seasons in my neck of the woods! Though we are in winter, there are still gardening chores which need our attention at present, including planting various types of grass seed in winter.

So, why plant grass see in winter? A lush green yard is the envy of every neighborhood, but it can be a challenge to obtain. There is much more to green grass than simply sun and water! A beautiful green yard is often the result of using the correct fertilizer, aeration techniques, type of grass seed used, and most importantly, when the seed is planted.

Here’s why: The time in which the grass seed was planted is the most important factor in determining proper seed germination. A lush green yard is the envy of every neighborhood, but it can be a challenge to obtain. There is much more to green grass than simply sun and water! A beautiful green yard is often the result of using the correct fertilizer, aeration technique and type of grass seed. The time in which the grass seed was planted is also an important factor. To complicate matters further, the type of grass seed planted and when to plant it varies from state to state, but a general rule of thumbs is that Fine Fescue Grass, Rye Grass, and Kentucky Blue Grass should always be planted in winter.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planting Winter grasses:

First, look for any storms that may be coming up. You’ll be more successful if you sow the seeds just prior to a rain shower, but not a down pour, to avoid washing your seeds down the drain.
Secondly, do not plant during an extreme cold snap; temperatures of 40 degrees or over during the day are ideal.
After you plant your grass seeds, you should see new sprouts no later than two weeks afterwards.
If it has been two weeks and there are no grass sprouts or very few then reseed and make sure you water thoroughly.
The soil you plant your seeds in should remain moist during germination; moist, not saturated.
Do not walk on grass seeds once planted. Grass seed germinates and grows best in dirt that is loose and not compacted.
Compost. Be sure to add compost over seeds when planting.

Beyond these tips, my greatest piece of advice I can give to those planting grass seed in winter? A natural, organic ground cover! For me, I like to create a re-usable seed blanket for my lawn using Autumnal Display Hay Bales, as so many people use bales as part of their Fall Garden Displays, which were torn apart, and thrown over top of scattered grass seed.

Here how I did it:

Clear your area. I used a blower and mulched under all debris left from the Winter.
Rake your area. Rake, till, or shovel your area until the top soil is loose and easily moved.
Purchase seeds for your yard; find the appropriate type of seeds based on the amount of sun, wind, rain, and what forms of recreation will occur on your seed.
Spread your seed! Lightly and evenly is key here!
Cover your seeds with hay!
Water your seeds daily. In my case, I layered seed today as it was going to rain. Be diligent and water daily, by hand, and do not use a sprinkler.
Lay the Hay! That’s right, shake it up, shake it loose, shake it down to the ground! I danced my way to a covered first tier.
Do not walk on the seeds. Like tile work, work your way from corner to corner, and work your way backwards, and away from your projects!
Allow your seed to grow. Your lawn will begin sprouting in 2-3 weeks.
Maintenance. If you grass has patches where seeds have not grown, use emergency my tried-and-tested seed repair kit, bird seed mix! Take two cups bird seeds, add water until its porridge-like, and apply to the ground! The water will detract birds, and help jump-start the seed germination.
Grooming. Yes, grass should be groomed, too! Be sure to wait a full two months to mow your new lawn for the first time, and when you do so, make sure your mower is not adjusted down too low, and be sure to be even in your cutting!
Aerate your lawn. Use cleats, spikes, or the like to aerate your soil twice a year, in April and October.
Water your lawn. Water your grass three times a week in Spring and Fall, and daily in Summer, unless prohibited by drought; if drought is an issue consider other means like rain barrels or collected bath water.
Feed your lawn. Be sure to feed your law appropriate lawn-feed in Autumn, and a grass-supported food, bi-monthly in warmer weather.
Weeding. If you need to remove weeds, use white vinegar in a spray bottle!

So, that’s it! That’s how you can achieve your best lawn, for those with Fine Fescue Grass, Rye Grass, and Kentucky Blue Grass, is to plant your lawns in winter!

Here’s to gardening,

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Gardening To Lose Weight!

Hello again, savvy savers! Today I am starting another new blog series, Battle Of The Bulge, Budget-Style! I will be focusing on ways to live a healthier, more active lifestyle while be able to afford clean, organic, obtainable foods! I believe this series can be worthwhile for many, who like myself, wish to get more in shape, not through crash-dieting but by small attainable lifestyle changes! All of the changes I propose will be free or affordable, and most meals and plans will contain couponed savings or deals! Fads are fancy, but coupons are a commitment! With that said, here is where I am currently: I have a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. I am looking to lose 60lbs., find affordable non-gym membership options for working out, and change the way I consume food; this includes meals, snacks, and splurges!

Today I am 31 years young, I am 5’6”, and weigh 198 lbs; I am down one pound since last week. I walk my dogs but beyond this am not terribly active. My lifestyle causes sedentary behaviors; I work-from-home, blog, run two internet businesses, and perform advocacy work online as well. I am an internet-based excuser! Today this changes! Spring has sprung, and so shall I! I have taken up yoga, and have started working out with a pedometer on as well!

For my 8th post, I wanted to discuss a new measure I have implemented to help in my healthier lifestyle choice, gardening! Did you know that according to the American Heart Association, gardening 1 hour daily will burn up to 400 calories, and considering that the average weekend project tales 4-6 hours, and that maintaining your yard weekly, in warmer weather, will take nearly 1 hour a day, you would, on average burn upwards of 2,400 calories a week! An entire days worth of calories! This is a staggering number! For me, I make sure to water the plants, lawn, and mow as often as I can, as its no longer a chore for me, but an exercise! I love that performing tasks for hobby can lead to better health!

How awesome is that? For a small, simpler routine, here is my suggested, and used, gardening workout routine:

Pull weeds in 1 flower bed for 10 minutes
Rake mulch back into place in all beds, as needed, for 10 minutes
Fertilize roses, bushes, and low-lying shrubs for 10 minutes
Manually edge 30 feet of driveway, sidewalk, or straight-edged areas, 20 minutes
Water front flowers beds, 10 minutes

So, by my routine, all of which I can accomplish before 8 am, or after 6 pm, and will burn 400 calories! No gym membership or lawn service needed! This is an awesome way to put on a few podcasts, listen to a cd, or just have some time to yourself, and your yard, for nothing more than time! I also keep my Shih-Tzu, Sassy with me while gardening to lose weight; I have metal screw-into-the-yard hooks in various places in my yard, which I leash and harness Sassy to, and move her from area to area; so I can bond with my fuzzy-love, lose weight, and clean my yard at the same time! This is one of my favorite ways to burn extra calories, while creating a more serene home for my family and myself!

Also, if you are looking for other ways to save money, lose weight, and maintain your yard, beds, and landscaping, be sure to check out my frugal garden tips, here!

Here’s to the Journey!

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How To Organize & Store Seed Packets!

Hello again, savvy savers! With Spring slowly winding up around us, many stores are drastically dropping the prices of seed packets (the Dollar Tree currently has seed packets for $0.05 per packet in my area),to cash in on pre-Spring sales, and this is the time to procure the majority of your garden seeds for the 2015 Spring Summer, and Later Summer/Fall Planting Seasons. So I thought this would be a great time to discuss one of my primary means to organize my seed packets at home! I use the binder method, similar to what I would use to combine coupons. I find that binding my seed packets makes for easier planting, storage, and accessibility.

Here’s how I do it:

Materials Needed:

A Spacious Binder; 3″ at a minimum.
Playing card sleeves; you can purchase there in packs of 10 at the Dollar Tree.
Currency Sleeves; you can purchase them cheaper than office supply store through Amazon for under $6.00.
Tab dividers and Page sleeves; optional.
Seed packets.
Freezer.

Instructions:

Taking a seed packet, fold the back 1.25 inches into itself, so that the fold of the packet falls just above the front banner of the packet; see photo above.
Place seed packets, with the name and homogeneous name of each seed facing up.
Divide seeds from flowers.
For a more organized binder, use tabs to divide seeds according to the months they should be planted; I follow my local Farmer’s Almanac which can be purchased at your local Dollar Tree.
For larger seed packets, a small piece of scotch tape can seal each slot.
Store your binder away from pets, on shelves, out of direct sunlight, moisture, or air fresheners.
For long-term storage, freeze your binder in a deep freeze; this maximizes seed life by as much as four years per packet.
Enjoy!

Here’s to being organized!

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How To Water-Start Spring Bulbs!

Hello again, savvy savers! For this weekends Gardening On A Budget Post, I wanted to share a new project I’ve just started around my home, water starting paper white bulbs!

As any gardener can tell you, one of the most cheerful, uplifting sights in all of gardening is the arrival of Spring Bulbs! And while these hardy beauties only last a short spell, they are amazing in all of their simplicity!

While traditionally, bulbs are prepped and planted in Autumn for Spring arrivals, bulbs can be coaxed into blooming indoors. The required supplies are minimal, the process is simple, and assuming you have bulbs on hand, your cost may in fact be free! The process can also serve as a learning opportunity for the kiddos to both learn about the bulb planting process, as well as to bring a taste of Spring indoors in the winter!

Here’s how to get started:

Materials Needed:

3 Spring Bulbs (on hand)
Water (on hand)
River Rocks (on hand)
Glass Vessel With a Large Opening (on hand)

Cost for project: Free!

Here’s the skinny on this project:

Select three bulbs; while I chose paper white purchased after he holidays for under $1.00, you can pick up bublbs from most retailers, inlcuding the Dollar Tree.
All bulbs should be stored in cool, dark spaces in your home; temperatures generally between 38 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit. The vegetable bin in your refrigerator is a good place to store bulbs, in brown paper bags,
To water start bulbs, start by cleaning and drying a glass vessel, or container.
Take two handfuls of river rocks, pebbles, etc. in the bottom of the container; there must be at least four inches of stones.
Place your bulb on top of the stones; the pointed ends of the bulbs should point straight up.
Leave an inch of space between them to allow for growth.
Add water to the bowl so that the level is beneath the bulb but does not touch it. The pebbles will wick the water upward and feed the bulb, allowing roots to grow into the water, without rotting the base of the bulb.
Place the bowl in a cool, dark area for an additional four weeks; under the sink is a great area.
This encourages the roots to develop first, which allows each tulip plant to develop stronger leaves and stems.
Check your water level weekly, and adjust water levels, or replace water levels, as needed.
Once you have one inch of bulb growth, move your bulbs to a sunny, warm spot after roots have developed.
Maintain the water level bi-weekly at this stage, so that it covers the roots but not the bulb.
Colorful blooms will appear within a few a week at this stage.
Once bulbs have stopped blooming, they can be planted in ground, traditionally for the next Spring!

As you can see from my paper whites, shown above, this project is simply beautiful in its simplicity!

Do you like growing Spring bulbs? What are your favorites? Please leave me a comment below!

Here’s to gardening,

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Organic Summer Gardening Prep!

Hello, savvy savers! With Spring but a few short months away, I wanted to start blogging about my upcoming garden! I know that many people are on the lookout for cheap, economical ways to eat organic, fresh produce on a dime, and I am as well. This year, I will be gardening myself, canning, and living off of what I can grow; I hope to accomplish this using simple, time-tested natural gardening methods! In addition to this, I will be keeping a running tally of all my gardening costs and expenses, so that you at home can see what growing yourself might cost, compared to buying in-store produce! So, I thank you all for starting this journey with me!

So, my first post will be about the basics, and my basics, I mean just that, the basics.

Plan what you will grow. Sit down and plan what you would like to eat; while doing this consider how much space, time, availability of materials you will have at your disposal, will you have help in gardening, and what you will do with the produce once you have it.
Purchase a Farmer’s Almanac, and look at your growing zone and see when you will need to plant.
Purchasing Seeds. This past week, I spend several hours researching seeds, seed cost, seed quality, and seed availability in my area. I spoke to friends and family who all suggested that heirloom seeds, although expensive, were the way to go. After researching this idea, I decided on another method. I stopped by my local dollar Tree and purchased both my vegetable seeds, as well as my flower seeds; I purchased both the both shade and flower bed mixes as well as packets for my veggies and flowers!
Set A Gardening Budget: I have allotted $200.00 for green materials, seeds, etc. this year. Thus far, for $15.00, I was able to buy 48 packets of flowers and veggies, all at $0.25 a packet, and then three boxes of seed mixes for flower beds and around trees. As seeds range in price from $1-6.00 a packet at Walmart, this is a steal in my opinion! Add to this, of the 48 packets purchased, I was able to buy ten different herbs including Sage, Oregano, Lavender, Parsley, and Thyme! I am supper excited about this purchase. As well, I would encourage those wanting to plant to buy seeds at the Dollar Tree early as my local manager said that many stores were sold out by March last year! Keep in mind, I was not able to buy certain starters such as berries, vines, potatoes, garlic, and onion sprouts yet, I am working on a cheap fix for this as well, and will be blogging on this topic in the weeks to come! In the meanwhile, I am fifteen dollars into my garden, and feeling very satisfied!

So, this is what I have been working on this week, in terms of Gardening On A Budget. If anyone else is starting the process of gardening in their neck of the woods, I’d love to hear about it, too!

Until later, I’ll be tilling around gardening ideas in my head!

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Gardening On A Budget: Tips For Taking Care Of Indoor Citrus Trees Over Winter!

Hello again, savvy savers! I hope the New Year, and end to the first week of the New Year, finds you joyful, peaceful, and teeming with resolutions in the making!

For this weeks Gardening On A Budget Post, I wanted to share what I have been up to this week, gardening-wise, and that is the care of my indoor dwarf Meyer Lemon, Mandarin, and Key Lime trees! For the first few years of my childhood, I lived on Signal Hill in Long Beach, California, and our home was surrounded by thick, flourishing citrus trees. When my Mother needed to relocate to the Jersey Shore for work, her love of citrus followed us, and since she always maintained citrus trees, and for the past few years I have done the same here is good Ole Mississippi!

Today I have a terrible secret: Previous to this past year, all of my indoor citrus trees keep dying. No matter how I carefully planted, nurtured, and tended to each beauty, they just did not seem to be flourishing as they should. Though trial, tribulation, and a lot of study this past year, I have found ways to help my plants start to flourish, and hopefully these tips may be able to help you, too!

1) Humidity: Did you know that most indoor environments have around 10 percent humidity, whereas most citrus producing tress thriving outdoors need closer to 50 percent or more humidity to thrive? So, many of you might be thinking of using a humidifier at this point, and while you can in short stints, this is not a great long-term solution, as over time humidifiers can cause mold, mildew, and paint peeling. An affordable solution? A humidity tray. Get a saucer or tray two inches in diameter larger that your citrus plant. Fill the tray with a single sheet of stones, and then fill the reservoir 3/4 full of water; refill the tray every fourth day. This method will give the trees enough natural, filtered humidity to mimic their natural outdoor elements. The Dollar Tree has an excellent variety of trays, and river rocks for that matter, which will work great for this budget-savvy project, too! Also, be sure to move trees outdoors for twelve hours stints, when weather permits, making sure to leave them in full, filtered sun, and return to the indoors two to three hours before nightfall; wheeled trays make this task easy!

2) Wind: Buildings, particularly homes newer than a decade old, tend to be airtight in nature, which can cause stagnant air. Citrus trees need air circulation, so whenever possible move plants outdoors in nice weather, and in winter when moving plants outdoors is not optional, use ceiling or tower fans, for eight hours daily to mimic ideal wind patterns in your home. Also, as Spring approaches, consider opening windows and doors for small stints of time as well, but be aware that winterizing citrus trees indoors can cause thinner leaves to form, and so to prevent sun damage to your citrus, never leave plants outdoors more than a few hours at a time starting in March of each year.

3) Moisture: I knew my trees were veering away from the primrose path when I started to notice curling, yellowed leaves. Why does this happen? Well, obviously this condition is due to a lack of watering and moisture, but moreover its because plants that get too dry, allow salts to crystallize in root structures. Salts, when soil are wet, are soluble and will not harm plants and act as a great source of plant nourishing nitrogen, but when soil dries out, salts will accumulate in the soil drying plants out. To prevent yellowing leaves, keep plants moist by watering plants every fourth day, and spraying lightly with a spray bottle every other day; make sure to not water-log plants to prevent rotting, too! A good tip for proper moisture balance, if the sides of the pot is cool to the touch, but the top is slightly dry, wait one more day, and then water as needed.

4) Fertilize: Another point to note that yellow leaves can able to be due to chlorosis, a lack of chlorophyll. Simply put, your tree is malnourished, and becomes stresses as a result. Citrus trees need a monthly dose of 18-18-18 fertilizer, and in the spring, when taken outdoors for Summer, remove two inches of soil around your citrus and replace with compost.

5) Sunshine: Spoiler alert…citrus trees require a minimum of twelve hours a day of sunlight to thrive, and the filtered light in most homes, like my own, is probably inadequate; unless you have rooms with constant, consistent sources of the perfect light trip, western, northern, and southern exposures, like a terrace or Florida room. So, be sure to leave blinds pulled up, windows opened, and allow your plant as much light expose as possible, during the day. I also hang light strips over my plants to increase light, especially during bought of drizzle, rain, or gloomy days!

So, folks those are my tips for growing citrus on a budget, indoors this winter! While this may seem like a ton of work, giving your citrus the upper hand, by way of affordable, budget strategies, and you will not only be able to immolate the perfect outdoor growing conditions, but begin to grow it needs to grow beautiful, thriving indoor citrus trees.

Just remember: When in doubt, add more sunshine, moisture, and nutrients!

Here’s to gardening on a budget,

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